Children living in northern latitudes have the joy of opening the door on a bright winter morning and imagining the possibilities for a snowy adventure, and cold temperatures are no deterrent for the child who is determined to find a good sledding hill. The thrill of zooming down a snowy slope is epic, until perhaps an icy crust snags the sled runners, sending the rider airborne. Despite the numbness that gradually envelops fingers and toes, a child's face glows with the satisfaction of a day well spent. When at last the snow-caked coats are peeled off, little piles of snow become puddles of melt on the floor. It is a messy business, going out to play in winter, but the snow is simply too beautiful not to be a part of it.